Convertible compartment container

ABSTRACT

A combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials comprising a container having upper and lower ends and side walls extending therebetween. A movable partition is permanently attached at its upper and lower edges to the upper and lower ends of the container so that the midsection of the partition may swing from one side of the container or the other side of the container responsive to loading pressures. Flexible end walls are also connected to the partition and are in the approximate shape of the cross-section of the container when fully extended for transporting liquids. The end walls are suitably creased to permit the complete infolding between the fixed side wall and the movable partition when the liquid load is drained from the container. Liquid and granular fill openings are provided at the upper end of the container and communicate with opposite sides of the partition so that liquid and/or granular materials may be introduced into the container on opposite sides of the partition. An unloading auger is provided at the lower end of the container for unloading the granular materials therefrom. A liquid unloading pipe is also provided at the lower end of the container for unloading the liquid therefrom. The container is adapted to be removably positioned on an open bed railroad car or an open bed truck. The container may also be a permanent part of either the railroad car or truck.

nited States Patent 1191 Kersten 1 1 Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 CONVERTIBLE COMPARTMENT CONTAINER [75] lnventor: Herbert H. Kersten, Fort Dodge,

Iowa

[73] Assignee: Tekko Corporation, Fort Dodge.

Iowa

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 422.439

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/22; 105/243; 105/248; 105/358; 214/8332; 220/85 B;

[51] Int. C13... 861D 5/02; B61D 7/02; B65D 7/40; B65D 57/00 [58] Field of Search 105/239, 248. 358. 243; 214/8332; 220/22. 85 B; 298/8 H; 302/52 Primary L'.\'uminer-M. Henson Wood. .lr.

Assistant liraIinerHoward Beltran Allm'ney. Agent. or Firm-Zarley. McKee, Thomte & Voorhees [57 1 ABSTRACT A combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials comprising a container having upper and lower ends and side walls extending therebetweenv A movable partition is permanently attached at its upper and lower edges to the upper and lower ends of the container so that the midsection of the partition may swing from one side of the container or the other side of the container responsive to loading pressures. Flexible end walls are also connected to the partition and are in the approximate shape of the cross-section of the container when fully extended for transporting liquids. The end walls are suitably creased to permit the complete infolding between the fixed side wall and the movable partition when the liquid load is drained from the container. Liquid and granular till openings are provided at the upper end of the container and communicate with opposite sides of the partition so that liquid and/or granular materials may be introduced into the container on opposite sides of the partition. An unloading auger is provided at the lower end of the container for unloading the granular materials therefrom. A liquid unloading pipe is also provided at the lower end of the container for unloading the liquid therefrom. The container is adapted to be removably positioned on an open bed railroad car or an open bed truck. The container may also be a permanent part of either the railroad car or truck.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures um. ratent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1012 3,918,604

11 H1. z '11. 111, W

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,918,604

. CONVERTIBLE COMPARTMENT CONTAINER BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION Conventional cargo containers are ordinarily suitable for transporting liquid or are suitable for transporting granular materials. Even if the containers were suited for transporting either liquid or granular materials, it would be necessary to clean the interior of the containers when the containers are being switched from granular .to liquid materials or vice-versa.

I Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to proovide a combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials which eliminates the need for cleaning the interior of the container when switching from liquid to granular materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination cargocompartment having a movable partition positioned therein which moves to one side of the container when liquid is being transported and which moves to the other side of the container when granular materials are being transported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination cargo compartment which is designed for maximum efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination cargo compartment which may be used on open bed railroad cars or open bed trucks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination cargo compartment which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the n.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention consists in theconstruction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair of the containers mounted on a railroad car with portions thereof cutaway to more fully illustrate the inventioni FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating onelof the containers mounted on a truck:

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view seen on lines 3 3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 except that the movable partition is illustrated in the position for handling liquids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 3. Motor 40 is operatively connected to the auger 36 foroperating the same.

The container is also provided with an unloading hatch 42 formed in the lower end of bottom wall 24 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The numeral 44 refers to an unloading auger provided in the hatch 42 which is driven by the motor 46. A liquid loading pipe 48 is mounted in the upper end of top wall 18 with a liquid unloading pipe 50 being provided at the lower end of the bottom wall 22 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The numeral 52 refers generally to a movable partition which is secured at its upper and lower ends to the upper and lower ends of the container along the'length thereof. Partition 52 generally comprises a top partition section 54 which is secured to the upper end of the container as seen in FIG. 3 by means of a pliable and flexible member 56. Partition section 58 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of partition section 54 by a pliable connecting member 60. A pliable connecting member 62 is secured to and extends between the section 64. Pliable connecting member 66 connects the lower end of the partition section 64 and the partition section 68. The lower end of the partition section 68 is connected to the lower end of the container by the pliable connecting member 70 as depicted in FIG. 3. Suitable pliable end walls are secured to the opposite ends of the partition 52 and top wall 18, intermediate wall 26, and bottom wall 22 so that the end will be forced against the solid end wall of the container when liquid is introduced into the compartment as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The end walls 30 and 32 secured to the opposite ends of thepartition 52 and top wall 18, intermediate wall 26, and bottom wall 22 may take any convenient shape and may be secured thereto .by any convenient means to form a seal between the compartments of the containers.

Assuming that the container 10 is going to be used for granular material, the granular material would be supplied to the hatch 34 with the loading auger 36 being actuatedto assist in the introduction of the granular material into the container. As the granular material is introduced into the container, the material will gradually move the partition 52 to the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3. Thus, the granular material does not actually touch the inside surfaces of walls 18, 26 and 22 but merely touches one side of the partition 52. The granular material would engage the end walls of the container and would engage the inside surfaces of walls 20, 28 and 24. The granular material may be unloaded by the unloading auger 44 or by gravity flow if so desired.

When it is desired to use the container for liquid, the liquid is introduced into the container by means of the liquid loading pipe 48. The pressure of the liquid entering the container will move the partition from the solid lines illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, the liquid does not come into contact with any of the surfaces which were previously in contact with the granular material which makes it unnecessary for the container to be cleaned when switching from granular materials to liquid materails. As the partition 52 moves to the position of FIG. 4, the flexible end walls extend to cover the end walls of the container so that the liquid will not come into contact with the end walls which were previously in contact with the granular material. The liquid may be drained from the container by means of the liquid unloading pipe.

It can be seen that a novel cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials has been disclosed which permits the container to automatically convert itself for carrying either granular or liquid materials. There is no need formanually manipulating the partition since the partition automatically responds to pressure exerted thereon by granular materials or by liquid materials.

The container described herein permits substantially all of the contained volume of the unit to be utilized for either liquids or solids. No cleaning or re-arranging is needed in converting the container from one mode to the other and further economies are effected by using one outer wall as a common wall for both the liquid and granular materials. The container may be utilized on an open bed railroad car or on an open bed truck or may be used as a permanent installation.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that by eliminating the granular material loading hatch 34 and substituting a liquid loading pipe 48 therefor, and by eliminating the unloading hatch 42 and substituting an unloading pipe 50, the container could be easily adapted to carry liquids of different composition in the same manner that liquids or granular material could be handled in the manner described herebefore.

Thus it can be seen that a combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials has been disclosed which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials, comprising,

a container having upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls,

a movable partition in said container secured to and extending between the upper and lower ends of said container so as to divide said container along its central axis forming a seal between the end walls and the partition,

said container having liquid inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with one side of said partition,

said container having granular inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with the other side of said partition,

said partition being automatically movable from a first position adjacent one of said side walls to a second position adjacent the other of said side walls in response to loading pressure exerted thereon by one of the liquid or granular materials so that said container may accommodate liquid material therein when said partition is in its said first position and accommodate granular material therein when said partition is in its said second position,

said movable partition also permitting said container to simultaneously accommodate both liquid and granular materials therein when said partition is in a position intermediate said first and second positions,

said partition comprising rigid flat portions interconnected by flexible and pliable members whereby the partition has a mating configuration with said top, bottom and side walls when juxtaposed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said partition includes a pair of end wall members which are movable therewith to engage the end walls of the container when liquid is introduced into the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls of said container comprises a top wall portion, a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, said partition comprising first, second and third rigid partition portions complementary to said top wall portion, side wall portion and said bottom wall portion respectively, said flexible and pliable members interconnecting said first, second and third rigid partition portions.

4. A combination cargo compartment comprising,

a container having upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls,

a movable partition in said container secured to the end walls forming a seal between said end walls and the partition and extending between the upper and lower ends of said container to form laterally disposed compartments,

said container having first material inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with one side of-said partition,

said container having second material inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with the other side of said partition,

said partition being automatically movable from an intermediate position between said side walls towards a second position towards one of said side walls in response to loading pressure exerted thereon by material entering said container from one of said first and second inlet openings,

said partition comprising rigid-flat portions interconnected by flexible and pliable members whereby the partition has a mating configuration with said top, bottom and side walls when juxtaposed. 

1. A combination cargo compartment for liquid and granular materials, comprising, a container having upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls, a movable partition in said container secured to and extending between the upper and lower ends of said container so as to divide said container along its central axis forming a seal between the end walls and the partition, said container having liquid inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with one side of said partition, said container having granular inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with the other side of said partition, said partition being automatically movable from a first position adjacent one of said side walls to a second position adjacent the other of said side walls in response to loading pressure exerted thereon by one of the liquid or granular materials so that said container may accommodate liquid material therein when said partition is in its said first position and accommodate granular material therein when said partition is in its said second position, said movable partition also permitting said container to simultaneously accommodate both liquid and granular materials therein when said partition is in a position intermediate said first and second positions, said partition comprising rigid flat portions interconnected by flexible and pliable members whereby the partition has a mating configuration with said top, bottom and side walls when juxtaposed.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said partition includes a pair of end wall members which are movable therewith to engage the end walls of the container when liquid is introduced into the Container.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls of said container comprises a top wall portion, a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, said partition comprising first, second and third rigid partition portions complementary to said top wall portion, side wall portion and said bottom wall portion respectively, said flexible and pliable members interconnecting said first, second and third rigid partition portions.
 4. A combination cargo compartment comprising, a container having upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls, a movable partition in said container secured to the end walls forming a seal between said end walls and the partition and extending between the upper and lower ends of said container to form laterally disposed compartments, said container having first material inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with one side of said partition, said container having second material inlet and discharge openings formed therein in communication with the other side of said partition, said partition being automatically movable from an intermediate position between said side walls towards a second position towards one of said side walls in response to loading pressure exerted thereon by material entering said container from one of said first and second inlet openings, said partition comprising rigid flat portions interconnected by flexible and pliable members whereby the partition has a mating configuration with said top, bottom and side walls when juxtaposed. 